Weapon accessory mounting adapter

ABSTRACT

A weapon accessory mounting adapter that increases the accessory mounting capacity of a weapon by utilizing a bipod stud or picatinny rail to attach accessories. This in turn, makes the weapon and its operator more responsive to changing shooting scenarios. The weapon accessory mounting adapter utilizes the bayonet mounting lug and flash suppressor of the weapon for temporary attachment of the accessories. This configuration allows the retention of weapon ergonomics when the weapon accessory mounting adapter is attached and maintains a low weapon weight when detached. Good ergonomics and low weight are important considerations in regard to effective weapon handling.

This application claims Benefit of Provisional application Ser. No. 61/339,678 filed Mar. 8, 2010.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of firearms and more particularly to an improved weapon accessory mounting adapter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Prior Art

The development of one conventional weapon, the M16-series rifle, has recently oriented toward a mission adaptable concept. A system of rails has been integrated into the weapon as a permanent installation to allow a variety of accessories to be added. Refer to U.S. Pat. No. 5,142,806 to Swan titled Universal Receiver Sleeve. The addition of accessories, as facilitated by these permanent rails, allows end-users to adapt the weapon for specific uses. Typical accessories include: (1) short and long range optical sights; (2) night vision sights including image intensification and thermal imagery; (3) backup iron sights; (4) infrared (IR) laser aiming and illumination devices; (5) visible light flashlights; (6) vertical pistol grips; (7) bipods; and (8) tactical cameras.

With such an assortment of accessories to install on the weapon, issues concerning available rail space, weight of the weapon and ergonomics of the weapon arise. In particular, the available rail space becomes scarce. The weight of the weapon is increased or becomes imbalanced, reducing mobility of the weapon for rapid target engagements. The ergonomics of the weapon are reduced, degrading weapon versatility and operator shooting speed and accuracy. Regarding scarcity of available rail space, weapons manufacturers have addressed this issue by designing and manufacturing devices intended to be permanently installed that expand the available rail space. While such devices have expanded accessibility of available rail space to varying degrees, at the same time they have not addressed concerns about the other issues of increase of weapon weight and reduced weapon ergonomics because of the particular locations of the permanently installed devices and accessories.

For instance, some devices and the accessories they mount are located along the rifle barrel where they tend to imbalance the weapon and/or interfere with the desired position of the non-firing hand of the operator. Also, the position of such mounted devices and accessories is adjacent to the space reserved for a bayonet thereby obstructing mounting of the bayonet. Refer to U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,356 to Finn titled Military Bayonet and Scabbard. One such permanently mounted device utilizes, and occupies the space about, a bayonet mounting lug. While an accessory installed on such device can be quickly attached and detached the permanent mounting of the device to the bayonet mounting lug prevents installation and utilization of the bayonet on the weapon. Related patents include U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,621 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,385,892 both to Vendetti.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the aforementioned issues by providing additional rail space and mounting capability for various accessories without requiring a permanent installation. The present invention relates to a weapon accessory mounting adapter that provides this additional rail space by temporarily utilizing the bayonet mounting lug and temporarily occupying the location normally occupied by installation of the bayonet.

There is disclosed herein a weapon accessory mounting adapter comprising a front bracket, rear latch device, an adapter body, a plurality of socket cap screws, a plurality of hex nuts, a plurality of fastener inserts, a plurality of roll pins, and a rail insert or bipod insert with bipod stud.

The adapter body consists of two mateable right-hand and left-hand panels or a single piece that provides structural support for the weapon accessory mounting adapter. Four small socket cap screws with hex nuts mate the panels thru transverse holes in the adapter body. In the upper half of the adapter body, two large fastener inserts are positioned within two panel recesses. These fastener inserts accept the two large socket cap screws that fixedly attach the front bracket and rear latch device to the forward and rearward ends of the adapter body respectively. A large hole in the upper half of the front bracket accepts the flash suppressor of the weapon's barrel. Three holes in the lower half of the front bracket accommodate the socket cap screw and two roll pins that attach and align the adapter body respectively. The rear latch device utilizes two spring-loaded levers to engage the bayonet mounting lug of the weapon. Three holes in the rear latch device accommodate the socket cap screw and two roll pins that attach and align the adapter body respectively.

In the lower half of the adapter body, two small socket cap screws secure one of two selectable inserts. The first, a rail insert, consists of a picatinny rail that accepts any picatinny rail mountable weapon accessory. Two attachment points of the insert are positioned in recesses within the adapter body and accept the small socket cap screws. The second, a bipod insert, only accommodates the mounting of a weapon bipod. This is accomplished by utilization of a bipod stud to mount the bipod. The two attachment points of this insert allow coupling to the adapter body in the same manner as with the rail insert.

In a second embodiment, the adapter body is redesigned to be compatible with a longer barreled weapon and to only provide mounting of a weapon bipod. The region of attachment of the bipod to the adapter is moved downward and rearward. Additionally, the lower half of the adapter body is restructured to accommodate the bipod. A third, smaller fastener insert is positioned within two panel recesses at the bottom surface of the adapter. This insert accepts the bipod stud that is utilized for mounting the bipod.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art weapon related to the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates the mounting relationship between a prior art weapon and a prior art weapon bayonet.

FIG. 3 illustrates the mounting relationship between a prior art weapon and the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates an assembled view of the present weapon accessory mounting adapter.

FIG. 5 illustrates the components of the present invention in exploded form.

FIG. 6 illustrates both the rail insert and bipod insert of the present weapon accessory mounting adapter.

FIG. 7 illustrates the prior art rear latch device related to the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates the front bracket of the present weapon accessory mounting adapter.

FIG. 9 illustrates the large fastener insert of the present weapon accessory mounting adapter.

FIG. 10 illustrates the mounting relationship between a prior art weapon and a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates the components of the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention in exploded form.

FIG. 12 illustrates the small fastener insert of the present weapon accessory mounting adapter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the attached drawings, there is shown fragmentary side views of a prior art weapon 10, such as a M16/M4/AR15-series rifle. More particularly, the forward portion of a barrel 12 of the weapon 10 is shown, without a bayonet in FIG. 1 and with the bayonet in FIG. 2. The bayonet is mounted in an under slung fashion relative to the forward portion of the barrel 12 by a front bracket 16 and a rear latch device 20, with a front blade 14 of the bayonet extending forwardly past a front end 12A of the barrel and a rear handle 18 of the bayonet disposed directly under the forward portion of the barrel 12. The front bracket 16 is fixedly attached to the bayonet between its front blade 14 and rear handle 18. This bracket has an upper opening allowing the front bracket 16 to be slipped over the barrel 12 from the front end 12A thereof. The rear latch device 20 is fixedly attached to the bayonet at the rear end of the rear handle 18. To perform installation, the bayonet is moved rearward to under the forward portion of the barrel 12, slipping the front bracket 16 of the bayonet over the front end 12A of the barrel 12 and sliding it rearward to a rear position with respect to the front end device, such as a flash suppressor, of the weapon, located adjacent to the front end 12A of the barrel 12. Concurrently, the rear latch device 20 on the bayonet is moved rearward into latching engagement with the bayonet mounting lug 10A.

Referring to FIGS. 3-9 of the attached drawings, there is shown a first exemplary embodiment of a weapon accessory mounting adapter, generally designated 22, in accordance with the present invention.

In FIG. 3 the first exemplary embodiment of the accessory mounting adapter 22 is shown releasably mounted to the weapon barrel 12 and, in turn, securely mounting a bipod accessory. The adapter 22 may include one or more transverse holes 23 to reduce its overall weight.

In FIGS. 4 and 5 the first exemplary embodiment of the accessory mounting adapter 22 is respectively shown in assembled and exploded forms. The accessory mounting adapter 22 basically includes a main adapter member 24, a front bracket 16A and a rear latch device 20. The accessory mounting adapter 22 attaches to and detaches from the weapon in the same manner as described above in relation to the bayonet. It should be understood with reference to the adapter member 24 that dimensions and materials are specified hereinafter as examples of, and not as limitations on, the sizes and compositions of the various features of the adapter member 24. The adapter member 24 has an adapter body 26 composed of two complementary mateable right-hand and left-hand panels of a glass-filled nylon material. The two panels will be joined by means of four transverse socket cap screws and hex nuts. The two panels incorporate internal recesses and slots corresponding to the various inserts required for the first exemplary embodiment of the accessory mounting adapter 22. When the two panels are joined, the top surface of the adapter body 26 is curved at a ⅝″ radius from the forward end to the rearward end of the adapter body 26 and is consistent with the curved shape of the top portion of the rear latch device 20. The overall dimensions of the adapter body 26 are approximately 1″ wide by 1¾″ tall by 4 15/32″ long. The forward end of the adapter body 26 includes a vertical flat surface mateable with the front bracket 16A. The rearward end of the adapter body 26 includes a vertical flat surface mateable with the rear latch device 20. Two fastener inserts 26A will be inserted into the recesses of the mated nylon panels at their opposite ends. The fastener inserts 26A are threaded so the front bracket 16A and rear latch device 20 are installed with socket cap screw fasteners. The associated two sets of two alignment pins each in the form of ⅛″ roll pins 26B extend thru the front bracket 16A and rear latch device 20 into corresponding holes formed in the mated nylon panels. The rail insert 28 has two attachment points extending upward from the top surface into the corresponding recesses of the mated nylon panels. The rail insert 28 is fixedly attached to the adapter member 24 by way of the two lower transverse socket cap screws and hex nuts. As an option, a bipod insert 30 may be fixedly attached in the same manner as the rail insert 28. The adapter member 24 may consist of a single piece of 6061 T6 aluminum with the corresponding machining required to assemble the components described above. Additionally, the adapter member 24 may incorporate a clamping mechanism so as to securely attach the accessory mounting adapter 22 to the barrel 12.

In FIG. 6 front views of the rail insert 28 and the bipod insert 30 are shown. It should be understood with reference to the rail insert 28 and bipod insert 30 that dimensions and materials are specified hereinafter as examples of, and not as limitations on, the sizes and compositions of the various features of the inserts. The rail insert 28 taking the form of a conventional standard rail known as a “picatinny rail”, is made of 6061 T6 aluminum. The rail insert 28 is approximately 53/64″ wide, 13/16″ tall, and horizontally straight in the lengthwise direction for 3″. Also made of 6061 T6 aluminum, the bipod insert 30 incorporates a vertical hole tapped upwards into the bottom surface so as to allow a 10-32 NF fastener 30A in the form of a “bipod stud” to thread therein for securing the bipod to the lower surface of the bipod insert 30. The vertical hole is centrally aligned with respect to the two sides of the bipod insert 30 and it is offset 1 5/16″ rearward from the forward edge of the insert. The bipod insert 30 is approximately 1¼″ wide, 13/16″ tall, and horizontally straight in the lengthwise direction for 3″. The bottom surface of the bipod insert 30 is curved in the widthwise direction to a 1″ radius, the circle for which has a center centrally aligned on the bipod insert 30 between the two sides thereof. The bottom curved surface of the bipod insert 30 extends to a width of 1¼″ before terminating at the two side surfaces thereof. The two side surfaces extend upward from there for ⅛″ and then inward so as to form a lip structure. The edge of this lip may also be rounded with a 1/16″ radius. This lip structure extends 3″ lengthwise from the forward end to the rearward end. The bottom surface of the bipod insert 30 may consist of any shape appropriate for mounting a bipod. The rail insert 28 and bipod insert 30 both incorporate two attachment points 40 that correspond to the recesses and lower transverse socket cap screws and hex nuts of the adapter member 24. These attachment points 40 are approximately 1/4″wide by 7/16″ tall by ½″ long. An appropriate size hole is centered widthwise in each point allowing the insertion of the transverse socket cap screw.

In FIG. 7 of the attached drawings, there is shown a rear view of the prior art rear latch device 20. It should also be understood with reference to the rear latch device 20 that dimensions and materials are specified hereinafter as examples of, and not as limitation on, the sizes and compositions of the various features of the rear latch device 20. The rear latch device 20 has overall dimensions approximately 1″ wide by 1¼″ tall by 7/16″ long and is made of steel. It is readily available as a commercial off the shelf item from various vendors, one of such being General Cutlery. It includes a ¼-20 NC socket cap screw 20A and two ⅛″ roll pins 26B that may couple the rear end of one of the various adapter member 24 embodiments. This same latch device is also located at the rear end of the bayonet rear handle 18 as described previously in FIG. 2. Two spring-loaded levers 20B secure the rear latch device 20 to the bayonet mounting lug 10A of the rifle, refer to FIG. 2, and allow its removal when depressed.

In FIG. 8 a front view of the front bracket 16A is shown. It should also be understood with reference to the front bracket 16A that dimensions and materials are specified hereinafter as examples of, and not as limitation on, the sizes and compositions of the various features of the front bracket 16A. The front bracket 16A has overall dimensions of approximately 1¼″ wide by 1⅞″ tall by 3/16″ thick and is made from plate metal steel. The upper portion of the bracket is curved to a radius of ⅝″ and maintains this curvature below the curve centerline down to the 1″ width of the lower portion of the bracket. The upper portion of the front bracket 16A includes a ⅞″ diameter hole drilled centrally between the two sides of the front bracket and offset from the top end thereof by ⅝″. This hole allows the front bracket 16A to fit around a front end 12A device, refer to FIG. 2, such as a flash suppressor mounted to the front of the rifle. The lower portion of the front bracket 16A includes three parallel holes offset from the bottom of the front bracket 16A by 7/16″. The middle hole is ¼″ diameter and aligned centrally between the two sides of the front bracket 16A. The two side holes are ⅛″ diameter and offset inwardly from each respective side by 3/16″. The middle hole accommodates a ¼-20 NC socket cap screw 20A and the side holes accommodate ⅛″ roll pins 26B, the three of which together enable the front bracket 16A to be attached to one of the various adapter member 24 embodiments. The bottom corners of the front bracket 16A are curved to a radius of ⅝″. The front bracket 16A may also be constructed to accommodate other front end 12A devices attaching to the barrel 12, such as sound suppressors, which tend to be larger in diameter and longer in length. Additionally, the front bracket 16A may incorporate a clamping mechanism so as to securely attach the front bracket 16A around the barrel 12 and front end 12A device attached thereto.

In FIG. 9 two views of the fastener insert 26A are shown. It should be understood with reference to the fastener insert 26A that dimensions and materials are specified hereinafter as examples of, and not as limitation on, the sizes and compositions of the various features of the fastener insert 26A. The insert is made of 6061 T6 aluminum and threaded ¼-20 NC to accommodate a fastener. The fastener insert 26A has two flanges 27 that seat in slots inside the nylon panels of the adapter member 24. These flanges 27 prevent the fastener from twisting or extracting the insert. The fastener insert 26A allows the installation of the front bracket 16A and the rear latch device 20 to the adapter member 24. The fastener insert 26A has overall length and width dimensions of ⅝″ and ½″ respectively.

Referring to FIGS. 10-12 of the attached drawings, there is shown a second exemplary embodiment of a weapon accessory mounting adapter, generally designated 22, in accordance with the present invention.

In FIG. 10 the second exemplary embodiment of the accessory mounting adapter 22 is shown releasably mounted to the weapon barrel 12 and, in turn, securely mounting a bipod accessory. The adapter 22 may include one or more transverse holes 23 to reduce its overall weight.

In FIG. 11 there is shown an exploded form of the second exemplary embodiment of the accessory mounting adapter 22 for mounting a bipod. It should also be understood with reference to the adapter member 24 that dimensions and materials are specified hereinafter as examples of, and not as limitations on, the sizes and compositions of the various features of the adapter member 24. The adapter member 24 has an adapter body 26C similarly composed of two complementary mateable right-hand and left-hand panels of a glass-filled nylon material. The two panels incorporate internal recesses and slots corresponding to the various inserts required for the second exemplary embodiment of the accessory mounting adapter 22. Because the second exemplary embodiment of the adapter will continue to be attached to the rifle using the same method as the original design, fastener inserts 26A will be inserted into the mated nylon panels allowing installation of the front bracket 16A and the rear latch device 20 with socket cap screws as before. The associated roll pins 26B insert into the appropriate nylon panels in the same manner as the original design. In the second exemplary embodiment of the adapter, a third, smaller, fastener insert 26D fits in a bottom recess to allow the 10-32 NF fastener 30A in the form of a “bipod stud” to thread into the bottom surface of the adapter. The second exemplary embodiment of the accessory mounting adapter 22 is designed to be utilized on longer length barrels of the prior art weapon 10, refer to FIG. 10. The region of attachment of the bipod to the adapter has been moved downward and rearward to accommodate the increased barrel length. The features and overall dimensions of the adapter body 26C parallel the original design except for the accommodations made for bipod attachment. The lower portion of the adapter body 26C is consistent with the overall dimensions of the lower surface of the bipod insert 30, refer to FIG. 6. The adapter member 24 may consist of a single piece of 6061 T6 aluminum with the corresponding machining required to assemble the components described above. Additionally, the adapter member 24 may incorporate a clamping mechanism so as to securely attach the accessory mounting adapter 22 to the barrel 12.

In FIG. 12 two views of the fastener insert 26D are shown. It should be understood with reference to the fastener insert 26D that dimensions and materials are specified hereinafter as examples of, and not as limitation on, the sizes and compositions of the various features of the fastener insert 26D. The insert is made of 6061 T6 aluminum and threaded 10-32 NF to accommodate a fastener. The fastener insert 26D has two flanges 27 that seat in slots inside the nylon panels of the adapter member 24.

These flanges 27 prevent the fastener from twisting or extracting the insert. The fastener insert 26D allows the installation of the 10-32 NF fastener 30A in the form of a “bipod stud”, refer to FIG. 11, to the adapter member 24. The fastener insert 26D has overall length and width dimensions of ¼″ and 7/16″ respectively. 

1. A weapon accessory mounting adapter that increases accessory mounting capacity without requiring a permanent installation comprising: a. A front bracket; b. A rear latch device; c. An adapter body; d. A plurality of socket cap screws; e. A plurality of hex nuts; f. A plurality of fastener inserts; g. A plurality of roll pins; h. A rail insert; or i. A bipod insert; and j. A bipod stud Wherein said front bracket is located at the forward end of said adapter body and said rear latch device is located at the rearward end of said adapter body thereby allowing attachment to the flash suppressor and bayonet mounting lug of a weapon; and Wherein said socket cap screws fixedly attach said front bracket and said rear latch assembly to said adapter body by threading into said fastener inserts located within said adapter body and said roll pins located adjacent to said socket cap screws align said front bracket and said rear latch device to said adapter body; and Wherein said plurality of socket cap screws located transversely in the upper and lower portions of said adapter body along with said plurality of hex nuts couple the two panels of said adapter body; and Wherein said plurality of socket cap screws located transversely and adjacent to the lower portion of said adapter body along with said plurality of hex nuts fixedly attach said rail insert or said bipod insert thereby allowing attachment of weapon accessories; and Wherein said bipod stud is located on the bottom surface of and centered from the sides of said bipod insert and rearward from the forward edge of said bipod insert a distance corresponding to the mounting of a bipod.
 2. The weapon accessory mounting adapter of claim 1 wherein said front bracket has an upper hole large enough to allow through a weapon flash suppressor.
 3. The weapon accessory mounting adapter of claim 1 wherein said front bracket is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, a polymer, a fiberglass composite, a ceramic and any composite or combination of these.
 4. The weapon accessory mounting adapter of claim 1 wherein said rear latch device is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, a polymer, a fiberglass composite, a ceramic and any composite or combination of these.
 5. The weapon accessory mounting adapter of claim 1 wherein said adapter body is comprised of two complementary mateable right-hand and left-hand panels.
 6. The weapon accessory mounting adapter of claim 5 wherein said adapter body panels are comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, a polymer, a fiberglass composite, a ceramic and any composite or combination of these.
 7. The weapon accessory mounting adapter of claim 1 wherein said adapter body is comprised of a single piece of a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, a polymer, a fiberglass composite, a ceramic and any composite or combination of these.
 8. The weapon accessory mounting adapter of claim 1 wherein said fastener insert comprises a flange shape, when viewed widthwise, selected from the groups consisting of circular, oval, elliptical, rectangular, and any combination of these.
 9. The weapon accessory mounting adapter of claim 1 wherein said fastener insert is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, a polymer, a fiberglass composite, a ceramic and any composite or combination of these.
 10. The weapon accessory mounting adapter of claim 1 wherein said rail insert comprises the form of a picatinny rail.
 11. The weapon accessory mounting adapter of claim 1 wherein said rail insert is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, a polymer, a fiberglass composite, a ceramic and any composite or combination of these.
 12. The weapon accessory mounting adapter of claim 1 wherein said bipod insert comprises a curve shaped bottom surface, when viewed widthwise, of a 1″ radius, the circle for which has a center centrally aligned on the bipod insert between the two sides thereof.
 13. The weapon accessory mounting adapter of claim 1 wherein said bipod insert comprises a bottom surface shape, when viewed widthwise, selected from the groups consisting of oval, elliptical, rectangular, and any combination of these.
 14. The weapon accessory mounting adapter of claim 1 wherein said bipod insert is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, a polymer, a fiberglass composite, a ceramic and any composite or combination of these. 